/*
085 * Note that all tvec_bases are 2 byte aligned and lower bit of
086 * base in timer_list is guaranteed to be zero. Use the LSB for
087 * the new flag to indicate whether the timer is deferrable
088 */

That your masking out the bit of struct tvec_base *base with 0x1 and returning the value.

The output is ans->0 for all iterations...Why do they have a function that tests for this? I really don't know.

Yeah.. I understood what you meant. thanks..
Next question is slightly out of context.. But to finish this discussion off with no questions remain unanswered in my mind,
Do you know what is that new flag that they are talking about in the comment?